A lot, actually. Take bureaucracy, for example: It’s likely that the word is perceived negatively by you and many others. Judging by public opinion one would be forgiven for thinking that this organizing principle has had a bad effect on society.
Yet as a principle, bureaucracy has been tremendously successful over thousands of years, evidenced by the fact that it is the mother of all incumbent systems today. During the 17th century bureaucracy, or ‘rule by office’ became an effective counter measure to governments being staffed by friends, relatives, or those of a particular social or ethnic group.
By definition a bureaucracy is rational, neutral, and merit-based. Perhaps it’s getting the blame for the effects of something else. To my mind the real enemy has and may always be self-interest.
